Ezekiel 36, 37.

Happy Spring Break all you non-student-teaching IWU-ers. Happy teaching to Bethany. Happy working to Sean and Brian.

Our Lent reading for today is the "Dry Bones" passage in Ezekiel 37. I hope this is a good reminder of our time together last week, and our discussion of God's desire to do a powerful work of re-creation and resurrection in our lives.

In chapter 36 Ezekiel prophesies words of restoration to the land of Israel and redemption for God's people. Ezekiel 37 then provides the object lessons that embody these promises. I read a little further this morning in Ezekiel 37.  Following the "Dry Bones" passage is a story about "the Two Sticks." Ezekiel is told to take two sticks -- one representing the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and one representing the Southern Kingdom (Judah) -- and join them together into one stick. This is to represent a fundamental principle of God's redemption: healing of division."I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all. Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms" (v. 22).

I believe that when God does works of re-creation and redemption people who were once divided are unified. I believe that one calling we have as Christians is that of unification and healing. God's people are not meant to be divided; they are meant to be one. Let God show you where you are divided with others during this Lent, and then ask him to perform a work of re-creation, one that fills your dry bones with spirit and heals your divisions.